“Mural Mosaics” wasted no time giving me a panel assignment. They provide a 12″ x 12″ canvas already underpainted with a general layout and palette within which the piece is to be worked. Mine, #56 in the mural, looked like this:

The request to avoid doing a landscape was a challenge at first, then my muse noticed the central red strip could be a canoe. The painting evolved from there. This oil painting is titled “Wasgo and the Spirit Hunters”.

Wasgo was a Haida name for Seamonster. In the background are symbols for salmon which can be seen under the water in front of the Spirit Hunters in the Canoe. Behind are painted symbols for Killer Whales under the water. There is also a depiction of them in the upper left corner. The canoists are shadowy figures in the canoe ~ representing Haida Hunters past.

I’ve submitted it with only a little trepidation…what if they don’t like it? Turns out I need not have worried. The return message from Phil Alain, producer/artist says

“We received your panel today! Its wonderful!! Thanks so much! It will be added to the mural soon…”

The mosaics are always unveiled slowly, so I can’t see it completely in context, but here’s a hint….